Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-05-07
Buffalo Hunting.

In riding over the green turf Of the
open country, one sees everywhere white
objects which so reflect the strong sum
shine that they almost dazzle tho eye.
These are the bleaching skulls of the
baffaloes that used to roam in thou
sands through this region. Every one
has read how, only fifty years ago, mill
lions of buffaloes wandered over nearly
half of the United States; now there are
no great herds except in the Territory
of Montana, and from that territory
more than a hundred thousand skins
have been sent to the East in a year.
For nearly every skin that is sent away,
about half a ton of fine meat is left to
decay on the prairie. It is q reckless
waste of animal life, and I am sorry to
say that our government does very little
to stop it. Within ten years there will
be no more great herds of buffaloes in
the United States. Small bands of them
will linger hidden away In valleys, but
by the time some boys who read this
have lived to be old men the American
bison will probably be seen only where
it is kept as a curiosity; just as the n
little band of aurochs-the last descend
ants of the wild cattle which used to
roam over all Europe-is kept y the
Emperor of Russia. Still, even now, at
times, single buffaloes or small bands
of them will wander back here to their
old grazing-grounds. Last summer q
party of hay-makers saw a band Of .
dozen or more in a remote valley behind
the peak. And a few days later, one
of our neighbors at the nearest ranch,
beyond the mountains, was sitting in
the doorway of his snug home one
morning, after an early breakfast when,
to his establishment, a great buffalo bull
came trotting easily along within q
hundred yards of the door. He would
hardly have been more surprised had
in for q morning call; for he had never
seen a buffalo. nor had he ever expect.
ed to see one at his own ranch. But
his surprise left him breath enough to
shout, IA buffalo! = buffalo" The
house was full of men just in from the
work of gathering beef-cattle for ship
ment; and at the startling word. every
man seized the nearest rifle or pistol or
shotgun, and dashed away to Join the
chase; only one or two stopping hastily
to throw a saddle on a horse. As soon
as the chase began. the big beast ran
swiftly into the thicket along the creek,
and was able to keep out Of sight fol-
some time. The chase was long and
exciting, but the buffalo's pursuers were
too many for him. Some followed up
his trail. while others watched the out
skirts of the thicket; and at last one o.
the best marksmen among them, catch
ing sight Of the big black body. took 8
quick line aim and brought the buffalo
down with a single bullet; so all the in.
habitants of the ranch were teasted
with buffalo-meat as long as it could b.
kept from spelling. But where thu
great herds range. there is no such ex
element about killing them.
One day Il young fellow from tn,
East, listening to the yarns of an OLD
buffalo-hunter, said, as the hunter finish
ed his story:
ut must be very exciting sport
Johnr
''Wel. I'll tell you how it is," sail
John. "1t's about rs exciting as II 20,
were to go out into the corral and shoe
a dozen Of those old dairy-cows with
pistol."-Ayred Terry Bacon. IN 81
Nicholas.